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To all that have/are reviewing me, and all those I've been reviewing--my apologies for being so sluggish of late. With the death of my closest sibling, and inheriting the full time care of my mother, me-time has been very difficult to come by. Bear with me--I will be attempting to create a schedule that everyone can live with as soon as the dust begins to settle.

So many new members often get frustrated by how the review process works on this site. Here's a list to consider when you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, or confused:

Giving critique

1. This site is a reciprocal workshop that depends upon a willingness to give before taking. You must invest in reviewing others before you'll get reviewed in kind. But DON'T get offended or automatically assume that everyone WILL return the favor. Some writers are reviewing multiple projects and may not have time to devote to you. Others may not find your genre to their liking. And there are others who that will only reciprocate with similarly skilled writers. There are a myriad of reasons why many writers will, or won't get involved in a project. Don't take it personal. It takes time to build writing relationships and gain a following.

2. When writing a review, never assume anything. Just review to the best of your ability and hope it's helpful to the writer. Some writers on this site are seasoned pros who workshop their drafts here. Some are here to polish their final edits. Some are beginners who are just learning to construct a novel. You never know for sure where on the skill spectrum a writer, or a piece of work falls, so don't assume anything.

3. Respect that every writer has their own process. Some writers will incorporate suggestions on the site as reviews come in. Others will make changes on their master manuscript but not on the site. Some writers won't consider any suggestions until their writing is complete. Don't judge, make assumptions, or have expectation about when/how a writer should consider your suggestions--accept that they have a process that works for them, and respect it.

4. Don't shy away from mentioning trouble spots just because other reviewers have mentioned it. Trends (good and bad) can only be spotted if multiple reviewers take the time to mention them. If a potential trouble area only bugs one reviewer, the writer could chalk that feedback up to bias, taste or style. But if that same area bugs 5 people of varying tastes and styles, then it becomes a trend--they might overlook the trend if you fail to mention it.  And, if you don't feel like being repetitive about a trouble area because someone else has covered it well in their review, then just mention you saw it as an issue too.

5. All feedback is extremely valuable. If you aren't confident with the different types, or are just beginning, one of the best kinds of reviews to give are those that encompass the overall reading experience; likes, dislikes, what you did or didn't understand easily, if you liked their style, or if it hooked you etc.

Receiving Critique

1. Thank every single reviewer. Even the ones that piss you off, or aren't as helpful as you hoped.
2. Reviews, even the tough ones, are about the work. They are NOT personal attacks about you.
3. Realize that it takes a long time to develop a tough enough skin, not to take things personally. We've all been there.
4. Resist the urge to get defensive. Most reviewers are just being honest about their observations and don't need, nor expect you to defend your choices.
5. It's okay to disagree, but unless or until you've developed a relationship with a reviewer, there's no need to seriously engage a reviewer about the ways in which you disagree.
6. Not all reviews, or reviewers are correct. Remember, you rarely know the skill level of the person offering you advise--so don't assume everything they say is gospel. Educate yourself before acting.   
7. When you are first starting out, resist the urge to tailor your writing to suit feedback. Educate yourself and earnestly learn your weakness and strengths before incorporating too many suggestions. Eventually, you'll learn to incorporate feedback that speaks loudest to your weaknesses and you won't trample over your innate strengths in the process.

Numbers 6 &7 are the most difficult and important lessons to learn when you are new to the process. Some new writers gain a little bit of knowledge and find it difficult to accept feedback of any type. Others go in assuming that everyone else knows better and rush to incorporate every little suggestion into their work--then end up with a holy mess that isn't even of their own vision or making.

Relax and know that eventually, you WILL develop filters that will aid you in developing a sense of when it's best to consider feedback, or dismiss it. And how to best incorporate those suggestions into your work.

Good luck!